Hundreds gathered in the tiny town of Lake Cowichan on Nov. 14 to witness the historic raising of the first totem pole in decades.
Tyee Ha’wilth Sha e’lum (Cyril Livingstone) and his family hosted the event and were proud to give a beautifully carved totem pole to the people of Lake Cowichan as a symbol of their mutually respectful relationship.
Ts’uubaa-asatx First Nation has 25 members with strong family connections to Ditidaht, Pacheedaht, Tseshaht, Hupacasath and others.
There was a strong showing of people from Lake Cowichan, as well as from invited first nations neighbors. Lake Cowichan Mayor Ross Forrest said the pole is a wonderful gift to the community, adding that it has been great working with the people of Lake Cowichan First Nation.
He said that his council signed a protocol agreement with Ts’uubaa-asatx in 2013 and he is excited to be working with their administrator Aaron Hamilton.
In 2014 Lake Cowichan dedicated their town square, naming it Ts’uubaa-asatx Square. It is a small, park-like area with seating space and planters. It features memorial brick pavers dedicated to the memories of some of Lake Cowichan’s citizens of the past.
Following the dedication, Chief Livingstone commissioned Hupacasath artist and historian Ron Hamilton to carve a pole that would be given to the town of Lake Cowichan. The pole would be erected in Ts’uubaa-asatx Square.
The pole was first blessed with prayers and eagle down. People were called upon to take a rope and help pull the pole into position. The first called were ‘old’ loggers, then service people like firemen and paramedics along with the Ditidaht and finally young men. Women were asked to pull the lines on the front of the pole, keeping it stable as it was being pulled into position.
The crowd cheered as Chief Livingstone let out a joyful ‘whoop’ when the pole was finally lifted. Dignitaries were called upon to drill some of the bolts in place with the assistance of a local senior logger.
“This is all about bringing our people together. It’s a happy day and a great day to celebrate,” said Mayor Forrest.
Chief Livingstone was overjoyed. He thanked everyone for joining them in such a special occasion and said his heart felt proud.
“Our pole will reflect the past, present and future of our community,” said Hakuum (Chief’s wife) Georgina Livingstone. The top of the pole features three faces. Hamilton explained that one face represented the Ts’uubaa-asatx people of the past, the ancestors.
The middle face represents the Lake Cowichan First Nations people of today and the final face, which faces the town library, represents the future. It was no accident that the face of the future was directed toward the library, a place of learning.
Another interesting fact about the third face is that it was modeled after a young Ts’uubaa-asatx woman named Kristen Hamilton. She is the granddaughter of Chief Livingstone and his wife Georgina and she is also the great niece of artist Ron Hamilton.
“She was modeled after a very beautiful young woman right down to the long hair and dimples,” said Hamilton. He went on to say that the idea for the face of the future is to help people keep the hope that the future will be good and better for aboriginal people than it is today.
Hamilton acknowledged artists Mark Mickey and Ray Sim for their assistance on portions of the pole.
Other features of the pole are mountains symbolizing the edges of the Cowichan Lake, defining Ts’uubaa-asatx territory. A hole near the top of the pole represents a cave located in their territory. Chief Livingstone plans to install quartz crystals in the hole to create a prism effect.
There are a pair of hayiitl’ik (lightening snakes) flanking the cave and guarding its entrance. At the center of the pole is a bowl containing a salmon. This represents Cowichan Lake and the resources it provides for the people.
At the base of the pole is a pair of kwaayaats’iik (wolves) which represent the authority of the Ha’wiih.
“Our pole symbolized the Ts’uubaa-asatx people and our connection to the local watershed,” the people were told.
Lake Cowichan First Nation served up a salmon dinner to all their guests at the Lake Cowichan Community Hall before sending them home.
